Seal for rotary pumps



` Oct. 28, 1941-.4 J. P. JoH'NsoN' 2,260,309

-SEAL FOR ROTARY PUMPS Filed March 18, 1938 `INVENTOR.`

Patented oci. 2s, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE SEAL FOR ROTARY PUMPS James P. Johnson, Shaker Heights, Ohio, assignor, bymesne assignments, to Pump Engineering Service Corporation, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio y AApplication March 18, 1938, Serial No. 196,694

(Cl. 30S-36.2)

1 Claim.

Inasmuch as the structural features of the pumps form no part of the present invention exn cept as they maybe lincluded in such combinations, a detailed description of the pump unit will it is effective irrespective of the pressure within the pump.

Anotherobject of the present invention is to provide means by which so much of the fluid pump, should the'seal become ineffective, theloss of vacuum will be negligible and therefore, will not aiect the efficiency of the pump.

A further object of the vpresent invention is to provide a yieldable mounting for the seal to compensate for any misalignment of the rotatable drive shaft without affecting the eiiiciency ofthe seal.

With the objects above indicated, and other objects hereinafter explained in view, my invenl tion consists in the construction and combination of elements hereinafter described and claimed.

Referring to the drawing: Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a rotary type pump showing the seal construction embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view taken l on line 2-2 in Figure 1 and showing details of the seal.

Figure v3 is a longitudinal fragmentary sectional view of a gear type of rotary pump showing a modified seal construction but embodying the same invention. v

Figure 4 is a, transverse sectional view taken `on line' 4-4 in Figure 3 and showing details of the seal.

In the drawing, I have shown seal constructions embodied in rotary pumps and their adaptation in this lconnection is of material importance but the inventionl is not to be so restricted as its ,adaptation to other structuresvhaving similar characteristics will be, at once, recognized by those skilled in the particular art.

"an integral end wall I3.

'is eccentric to the axial bore I2'.

not be hereafter set forth but reference should be had to my prior Patent No. 2,202,913 and my copending application, Serial No. 196,693, filed March 18, 1938, for a,clearer understanding if found necessary, wherein such structures are claimed.

In the construction illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 the housing is indicated by II and has an axial bore I2 extending inwardly from one end thereof and which is closed at its other end by The housing II is provided with an interiorly screwthreaded opening I 4 on one side thereof, which communicates with the axial bore I2', while the opposite side of the housing isprovided with la similar screwthreaded opening (not shown) which likewise communicates with the bore I2'. threaded openings are adapted to be connected, one wtih the fuel supply and the other with the carbureter which supplies the fuel to the motor, and the respective openings will be connected in the. manner herein stated, depending on the direction of rotation of the fuel pump.

A liner I1 is positioned within the axial bore I2' and is provided with an axial bore I 8' which The liner I'I' has oppositely disposed transversely extending openings (not shown) communicatingrespectively with the screwthreaded openings in the housing so as to provide communication with the interior of the bore I8', the latter constituting a circular chamber.

A rotor 2 I is eccentrically positioned within the bore I8 and has a running engagement with the inner peripheral wall of the chamber at 22', which separates the screwthreaded openings. The rotor 2 I is provided with tubular extensions which extend axially thereof, and are suitably mounted for rotation in spaced bearings disposed lwithin the housing. The body .portion of the rotor is provided with angularly disposed slots, positioned longitudinally and Within which are slidably mounted a plurality of blades 24', the blades being coextensive with the body portion of the rotor. The outer ends of the blades are adapted for engagement with the inner peripheral wall of the chamber, While the inner ends of'the blades extend inwardly within the axial bore 25 provided in the rotor. A roller member 26' is freely positioned within the `bore 25' and is adapted :for engagement with the inner These screwement. |20 yie ends ,of the blades to maintain the latter in spaced relation.

projection is mounted for slight axial moveg ment within the recesses ||2' butl connected thereto inLa manner to insure rotation of the rotor 2|'. an enlarged circular lportion lll' which is disposed within the flanged extension of the bearing opening in the adjacent bearing and has a close running fit therewith. 'Ihe inner face of the circular portion H3'` is spaced slightly from the adjacent end of the rotor extension but is movable axially `into engagement therewith for a purpose to be later described. The shaft H'.

has a reduced portion ||4 outwardly of the A vided withan axial opening to receive the en- Aing opening an eilicient seal is provided so that the loss of vacuum is inconsequential.

,v The plug |22' which'closes theoutcr end'of the bore i2 has an annular flange |24' whichis adapted to engage the flange vH9' on the supporting member and by screwing the plug in;- wardly'the ilange H9 is secured in rigid position. 'Ihe plug |25' has an end wall |25a prolarged portion H3' of the drive shaft. The outer l end of the drive shaft ||0 has a gear |26' Outwardly of the projection is circular portion "'IIS and of relatively smaller diameter and a second enlarged circular portion H5 substantially midway of its ends..

A seal supporting member I6', preferably of steel material, has an annular wall which encircles the flanged extension of the adjacent bearing and an inwardly extending peripheral flange H8 arranged in spaced relation with respect to the adjacent end of the bearing ange. The opposite end of the supporting member4 H6' has an outwardly extending peripheral flange H9' which rests 'upon the adjacent portion of the bearing insert and is of a diameter such as to .permit it to be slidably mounted within the bore I2' of the housing'. Positioned `up0n the inner face of the innerperipheral ange Il li' of supporting member H6 is a exible disc |20',

of any suitable material, such .asl thel comm-ercially available products 'including the rubber composition commonly vknown as Duprene, together with fabric material used therewith, Positioned upon the inner face of the exible disc |20 is a metal disc |2I' which has its inner face spaced a suitable distance from the adjacent end oi' the `bearing flange. The metal and iiexible discs and flange ||8 are secured in any; suitable manner for their intended-function but in the present instance, a plurality oi' pins |22' have their outer ends secured to .the ange ||8' and their inner ends projecting lfreely through aligned openings in the flexible and metal discs.

Themetal disc |2i' and the enlarged portion H13' of the drive shaft are so arranged that their adjacent marginal portions are in running engagement and their contacting surfaces being machined, produce a seal againstthe escape of fluid by reason of the pressure existing in the pump during its operation; The exible and metal disc arrangement provides another advantage in that it insures a proper seal evenl though the drive shaft ilu is in slight'misaligns is madel possible by the flexible disc alignment between the contacting portions of the metal disc,r |2I' and the enlarged portion H3'.

The construction is such`that when the pump isV vacuum tested by the interior of the lpump being placed under vacuum, the .enlarged portion H3 of the drive shaft is moved inwardly g slightly without causing any mison the seall elements which will, function independently of the uid pressure and also in conjunction therewith. A simple and expedient way. `consists of dividing the roller member 26' centrally into two sections 221'and 228 and providing aligned bores in their adjacent ends within which a 'coiled spring 229 is disposed. 'I'he spring exerts anoutward thrust upon the sections whereby the outer end of the' section 220 abuts the end wall I3' of the housing and the outer end of thesection 221 abutsv the transverse extension thereby maintaining the flange I I3' in sealing engagement with the disc |2|' independently of the uid pressure. A spring of the desired tension should be selected which will exert a force suiilcient to maintain the seal.

The operating parts of the pump are, of course so arranged that the pump may be operated in either direction without the necessity of rearrangement thereof, which is quite' advantageous in view oi' the fact that different types of motors operate in different directions. It is not necessary,'therefore, to change the position of the pump, irrespective of the direction of'otation ofthe motor used.

m Figures 3' and 4 a stm further modification of the seal is illustrated and a detailed description of the pump and its operation will be found lin my above referred to patent. In this'type of gear pump; the pumping gears |20 and |2| are in mesh and rotation of the latter creates a suction at the inlet opening thereby drawing the means but preferably a drive shaft |40 of vsteel v is provided which has a splined outer end 4| adapted for connection with the aircraft engine for positive rotation therefrom. The shaft extends through the end of the housing and has a transverse projection |42 upon its inner end'.

which slidably fits within transversely aligned recesses |43 provided in the adjacent end of the extension 2l. outwardly of the projection |42 the shaft vIMI is provided withan enlarged circular portion |44 which is d isposedwithin and has a close running fit withthe/ inner peripheral surface of the bearing material adjacent the ,l opening H3. The inn'er face of the enlarged cir-- cular portion |46 is spaced slightly from the outer portion |46 of smaller diameter than that of the ange and positioned outwardly of the latter. An inherently rigid disc |41 of bronze or other bearing material, is disposed outwardly of the flange |45 and has a central opening through which the enlarged portion |46 of the drive shaft I freely extends. A flexible disc |48 of the above referred to Duprene and fabric or other similar material, is disposed outwardly of the disc |41 and housed within a circular recess |49 provided upon the inner side of an end plate |50. The end plate |50 has an inwardly extending circular flange |5| adapted to fit closely within a recessed opening in the adjacent end of the housing and is detachably connected to the latter by a plurality of screws |52. A gasket |53 is disposed at the outer marginal portion between the end plate |50 and the adjacent portion of the housing to provide a fluid tight joint. The discs 41 and |48 may be secured to the end plate |50 in any suitable manner to prevent rotation and in the present instance I have shown aligned openings to receive the free end of a pin |54 which has its opposite end rigidly connected to the end plate as more clearly shown in Figure 4. As many of these pins may be employed as desired, so as to maintain the discs in proper relation. 'Ihe machined surface `of the flange |45 has a running engagement with the adjacent surface of the disc |41 and the flange is forced into sealing engagement with the disc |41 by the pressure created within the pump housing during oper-- ation. The flexible disc |48 is provided to comsure and to accomplish this result means is pro-- vided for bleeding the oil from adjacent the seal and returning it to the inlet side of the pump.

In the present instance the drive gear is provided with an axial openingextending entirely through it and its extensions. This opening is of large dameter at |55 and communicates with a portion |56 of' smaller diameter at its inner end forming a shoulder |51. The opening has a portion |58 of smaller diameter than the portion |56 thus providing a shoulder |59. The opening has a further portion |60 of smaller diameter than the adjacent portion |58 thereby providing a shoulder |6| at its inner end, the outer end communicating with the adjacent end of the bore '|29 .in the cover |26. A tubular member |62 is secured within the portion |56 of the opening and seats against the shoulder |59, vits inner endproviding a valve seat. A ball valve member |63 is movably mounted in the portion |58 of the opening and engageable with the valve seat. A coiled spring |64 has one end engageable with the ball valve member |63 and its other end engageable with the shoulder |6| to normally maintain the valve member in engagement with its valve seat. A second coiled spring |65 isdisposed within the portion |55 of the opening and has one end in engagement with the transverse projection |42 on the inner end ofthe drive shaft while its opposite end is in engagement with the shoulder |56 and the adjacent end of the tubular member |59 for normally urging the flange l|45 into sealing engagement with the disc |41.

The tension of the coiled springs is predetermined so that the pressure exerted by the spring |65 and the pressure of the oil retained adjacent the seal is the effective sealing pressure, the excess oil passing ethrough the opening 55, the opening in the tubular member |62 thereby unseating the valve member |63 and permitting flow through the portions |58 and |60 of the opening where it discharges into the bore |29 of the cover. The cover |26 is provided with a passageway |66 communicating with the bore |29 and the inlet opening so that the oil discharged into the bore |29 is returned to the inlet opening.

It will be noted that while different modifications of seal structures are shown .they are all made effective by the same function and thereby each embodies the same broad invention. The built up pressure of the fluid withinthe pump exerts a force to maintain a proper seal and where this built up pressure is greater than that required to maintain the seal, the excess fluid is diverted away from the seal, and in the case of pumps, into the inlet side.

While I have described certain preferred embodiments of 'my invention it is to be understood that I am not to be limited thereto inasmuch as changes and modifications may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended' claim.

What is claimed is: Y

In a fluid pump bearing and fluid pressure seal assembly, a supporting housing, a rotary drive shaft carried thereby, means inwardly of said housing defining a single horizontal bearing for said shaft, said bearing being Vlimited to a length equal only to a small fraction of the total length of said shaft within said housingand providing for a limited axial movement of said shaft as well as a limited mis-alignment of said shaft relative to said bearing, a radially extending flange functioning to provide an axial thrust bearing surface displaced axially outwardly of said horizontal bearing, a bearing ring arranged to engage said thrust bearing surface, and supporting means arranged to be fastened to said housing for supporting said bearing ring, a compressible ring interposed between said bearing ring and said supporting means providing for said axial4 

